3.5 Voter Education and Civic Education During the first phase of the BVR exercise, the ZHRC noted that ZEC had not yet rolled out voter education initiatives in most communities. However, this improved as Election Day approached. The ZHRC noticed an increase in awareness on voter registration. Throughout the monitoring missions around the 10 Provinces, registrants confirmed that educators were disseminating information through door to door interactions, flyers, pamphlets, radio and television. ZEC placed posters within communities, informed Village Heads about elections in order for them to cascade to communities conveying messages about elections at gatherings (schools, health centres, churches, and cattle dipping sites). During the pre-election observation and monitoring, ZHRC, monitors distributed IEC promotional materials which included flyers, pamphlets, abridged versions of the Declaration of Rights and posters with awareness messages on electoral rights to enable citizens to be aware of their rights and the available redress mechanisms in cases of human rights violations. Therefore, in conjunction with the voter education initiatives undertaken by ZEC; ZHRC together with other Independent Commissions, CSOs and Faith Based Organisations also conducted civic education initiatives on human rights with particular emphasis on political rights. Such awareness raising initiatives capacitated the electorate on political rights and the avenues to report incidents of politically motivated violence. ZHRC activities were inclusive of 22 roadshows and outreaches12 in 5 Provinces. The Commission launched the “My Vote, My Right, My Choice” campaign which was conducted through 20 radio programmes (on STAR FM and Radio Zimbabwe) and 8 television programmes and 55 advertisements on television and radio. The campaign showcased the work of the Commission and enhanced the populace’s knowledge of human rights and the areas of redress in the event of violation of those rights. 12 The outreaches were conducted in Midlands Province 4, Mashonaland Central Province 4, Matebeleland North 4, Mashonaland West 4 and Mashonaland West 6. Page 22 of 55